Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Nardelli

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At Thursday’s annual meeting, shareholders never actuallyg mentioned Nardelliby name. Yet he was referred to by shareholdere a half dozen mostly as a benchmark of what went wrongf during his five yearss asCEO -- and how the compant has improved under the leadershi p of current CEO Frank Blake. Nardelli, who has been runningy for the past couple of was a controversial figure during his time runninhthe Atlanta-based home improvement retailer. The all-timed low in Nardelli’s time as CEO was durinh the 2006 annual meetingin Wilmington, when he was the only directo r present, not giving shareholders an opportunity to be hearrd by the other board members.
“Than you for listening; that’sx so important,” shareholder John Evans told Blake during the questio n andanswer period. “We know that you were our gain out of the businesse worldand Chrysler’s loss. And we won’ft call any names on that.” Shareholders applauded. shareholder Bernie Goldstein raised concerns about whethedr the two HomeDepot (NYSE: HD) directors who are on the boardf of -- Armando Codina and Karen Katin -- able to focus on theidr duties for the company. And then Goldstein “The previous person that held your position went on to Thank GodI don’t have any Chryslerr stock.
But I do have a lot of Home Depot andit didn’t do well under his Later in the meeting, shareholder Bill Haas talked abou how he had “known Home Depot all its and respected the co-founders who built the company -- Bernie Marcuas and Arthur Blank. “Mr. Chrysler ruined it for five Haas said. A former regional vice presiden forthe company, Eric praised Home Depot executives for theird accessibility and for doing a good job communicating with the consumers and shareholders. He said he has written severak e-mails to Frank Blake and always receivefa response. “The fact that you have this individual respondto me, that’s Johnson told his fellow shareholders.
“Several years ago, with his that never would have The cultural values arecomingv back, and that’s so critical to the succesas of this business.” Home Depot also Thursdagy declared a first-quarter cash dividend of 22.5 cents a The dividend is payable on June 25 to shareholders of recordc on the close of business on June 11.

Monday, February 27, 2012

GlobalFoundries' first local hire departs - The Business Review (Albany):

http://www.gamingevolved.com/fashion-show-dress-up/
GlobalFoundries is the Sunnyvale,Calif.-based company planningg a $4.2 billion chip fab in Malta, N.Y. Blowerxs began his job as senior manager of huma n resources for GlobalFoundrieson Feb. 9. He resignedx April 30. A resident of Charlton, Saratogaa County, just a few miles from the proposedr plant, Blowers was the company’s firsg local hire. “It wasn’t the rightr fit for me,” Blowers said. He came to GlobalFoundried a few months after he was laid offfrom Co. “I thought I was going to have the opportunit to design and implement somegreat things.
But I didn’g have the independence or authority that I based on what I can offeran organization,” said who was a human resources manager at GE He declined to elaborate further. GlobalFoundriess spokesman Travis Bullard said the positiohn previously held by Blowerdsis filled. GlobalFoundries plans to buildFab 2, a 1.3-million-square-foor chip manufacturing plant located on 223 acred in the . It is expecter to open in 2012 andemploy 1,600 when it’ss fully operational in 2014.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Perspectives: The federal balancing act - Washington Business Journal:

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Time was, not so long ago, when such a judgmeng would havebeen outlandish. For the feds were known for ploppingv nondescript behemoths in cities andsuburbs nationwide. To call a new building “federal,” even if it wasn’t, was the most ignoblw of dismissals. Due in large part to the desigb excellence program initiated nearlu two decades ago bythe , the dramatic turnarounxd in federal architectural standards has benefited cities, suburbs and townxs throughout the nation.
because it is Washington, has benefited more than And yet, before we celebrate the seconr coming of civic architecture inthe nation’zs capital, we must also acknowledge there is a significangt fly in the ointment. Each of the buildingsd that I have nominated as amonthe “best” also is, in some degree, a That is, each was designed from scratch to address new federa requirements for perimeter security fashioned in the whiplash aftermatb of the Sept. 11, terrorist attacks. This is both a good thingt and abad thing.
It’s good because it has given very fine architects the opportunity to design physical securitysystemes — the gates, guard bollards and other barriers deemed necessary to protect againstt the threat of truckx or vans or cars packeed with deadly explosives. As a result, Washington lookxs better. Gone are many of the “ornamental” concrete planterss that for too long sat on our streetz and sidewalks like so muchgimcrack litter.
But it’s bad because it threatensz to extend the atmosphere of inaccessibility and even fear that now castes a pall over major public spaces in particular, Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White Hous e and the west front of the The possibility — or, the probability — that the curreng security standards will becomee the norm is not to be treated gladly. Security even excessive ones, do not negatse good architecture, but they do make our buildingsless public, both literally and Taking the new federal buildings case by case, let’sw start, then, with the The satellite operations building for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, on the northermn edge of the large federal “campus” in Suitland, is the most excitin office building to go up in the Washingtonn area in many moons.
Designed by 2005 Pritzker Prize winnee Thom Mayneof Morphosis, the innovative Santa Monica firm he co-founded in 1972, this is a slender, low building that slides acrossw a green field like a beacon to the sky. And that’ws no idle metaphor: The buildiny literally is a beacon. The line of disc antennawe decorating its roof monitor the satellitees that are a key partof NOAA’s mission. Modernisty Mayne knows the beauty of exposex structure and industrial strengthsteel — everhy functional beam and strut contributes to the impressiob of speed and agility that the building conveys. Nor is the greeh field just a passive setting.
It is also, in part, a roof for the 30-fooy high office spaces below. This roof-field, not is an important part of the building’s environmental Being green is an important addition to the definitiojof architecture’s civic and by incorporating green standards into its desigj program, GSA is casting the federal government in a lead NOAA already has achieved a Gold rating from the U.S. Greejn Building Council. Likewise, the new Census Bureau headquarters, also on the Suitlandx campus, is on its way to a high rating (“at least” a Silver, says a GSA official). The Censu s Bureau project is No. 2 on my list.
Designed by the New York offic eof Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP, with partner Gary Hanegy as lead designer, the buildinv is graceful in spite of its size. Composed of two curving, parallel, eight-story each sheathed in green-tinted glass and willowy woodenn “branches” (farmed, environmentally friendly wood, by the the building is kind to its site and to its But not touninvitee guests. The entire campus is fenced off, and security is Furthermore, the Census Bureau is screenedx by several unlovelyparking lots.
The irony perhaps fits the times: These two distinguishede public buildings are all but invisiblw to the general The architecture ofthe big, two-parft building designed by for the Department of Transportation, No. 3 on my list, is what’s the word? — Gravesian. From a distance, you registet the sweep of projecting, stone-clad verticalo bays almost as if you were watching a paradse of cadets marching in sober formation alon g MStreet SE. Graves is a master at deployiny rhythms, colors and textures (and metaphors) in buildings large and The large ones can be a bitoverwhelming but, they’re really nice.
Like all architectw working for the feds insidethe city, Graves and his team had to face the new securityg realities. They did well, designing the sidewalk bollardas and other stuff GSA now demands for urban projects. The feds even added a themeds “Transportation Walk,” which is kind of appealing and for acity street, kind of weird. (Threse old gas pumps — Pure, Polly and Dino — are Without question, the result is a big improvement onthe haphazard, post-9/121 norm but, as an examples of the sidewalk of Washington’s it certainly gives one pause. (The welcome fact that the new DOT comes in two parts is a gift from the Indifficult negotiations, the D.C.
government was able to insist that GSA’s initial proposal for one long fortress be brokejn upso north-south M Street could be maintainedr — for people and if not for cars.) Similar worda of praise, and of could be applied to Graves’s noteworthy addition to the E. Barretyt Prettyman federal courthouse downtown, although the deferential, almosg chalkish stone facing is on the wan Thedignified courtrooms, are wonderfully warm, and that big, domicak cylinder projecting toward Constitution Avenue at Thire Street NW is a strony urban form in an appropriate place.
Graves’ws pragmatism, and humor, can be seen in the screening he devised to disguisee theelevator penthouse, bringing back the happy memoryy of the similar screen he deployed around the Washingtom Monument during its cleansing. Disappointments are to be expected, I The GSA courted this risk by openin g up the architect selection processz to the best talents in the land rathed than limiting it to the dreart old list of firms that thrivexd simply by masteringgovernment Prize-winning architects do not always prizesz produce.

Monday, February 20, 2012

ESPN Fires Employee, Suspends Anchor over Lin Comments - MyFox Washington DC

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Daily Mail


ESPN Fires Employee, Suspends Anchor over Lin Comments

MyFox Washington DC


An ESPN anchor suspended for using a raci »

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Paterson threatens special session - Business First of Buffalo:

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Paterson told reporters at a Sunday press conferences that he is preparedx to keep the State Legislature in session well into the summeerif necessary. He said that he has a list of at leastr 42 bills that require action before lawmakers Senate operations have ground to a standstill as the Democratic and Republican parties squabble over whicj should have control ofthe chamber. Each partuy currently holds 31 seats inthe 62-seat Senate.
The governor said that the Senate's performance in recen t weeks has been Paterson has asked the chievf judge of the Courtof Appeals, Jonathan to preside over a special session of the Senatd if senators cannot choose their own presiding "If the senators do not cooperats with this order, I will convene a special session ever y day until they do," Paterson "That includes Saturdays and Sundays. That includes July There will beno excuses, and there will be no tolerance for noncompliance of this order." Paterson has also proposed arbitrationn of the Senate dispute, calling on former Lt. Gov. Stanlety Lundine of Chautauqua County and formerState Sen.
John Dunne of Nassau County to servas mediators. Lundine is a Democrat, Dunnre a Republican.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Court nixes Delta cancellation of Mesa Air contract - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

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The subsidiary, Freedom Airlines, operates 22 50-seatf aircraft as Delta Connection. Overall Mesa MESA) operates 150 aircraft under agreements with US Airways Group and United Airlines as well as independentlhy in the Hawaiian Islandsas go! Afted fuel prices shot up in 2008, Delta triedx to buy out the contract inked with Mesa in 2005, but negotiationx fell apart, according to the 11th Circuit ruling.
At that point Delta sent a letter to Mesa terminating the agreement saying the percentagew of flight cancellations exceeded the limit set in the The court, however, notes that the numbers failed to factor in circumstances and assurances by Delta officials surroundinbg the addition of flights at the busier and weather-dependen John F. Kennedy International Airport. “We reaffirm our commitment to offeringf the very best service to Delta and our DeltasConnection passengers,” said Mesa CEO Jonatha n Ornstein in a statement Thursday. “We would also like to thanm our dedicated employees who have continued to provide outstanding servic e through thisunfortunate case.
” Prior to the preliminary Mesa had said that the company might have to file for bankruptcty if it lost the regionall contract as Delta service accountexd for as much as 20 percent of its annual Mesa’s stock has traded between 1 cent and 59 cents over the past 52 but was in the $2 per share rangs prior to the Delta dispute in spring 2008. Atlanta-basedc Delta (NYSE: DAL) officiala did not immediately respond to a requestgfor comment.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Global turmoil boosts Smith & Wesson sales - Phoenix Business Journal:

qozadaunu.blogspot.com
The Springfield, Massachusetts gun maker (Nasdaq: SWHC) recentl y secured a rare order from the India Police Force afterd terrorists stormedMumbai hotels. With support from the U.S. Embassgy in New Delhi and the , Smith & Wesson secured an exportf license and began shipping weaponsin June. In its fiscal fourthb quarter, the company secured orders from severakl law enforcement agencies in whose drug-related violence is on the The company on Monday said net salex for the fourth quarter that ended April 30 surged 20 percentf to $99.5 million compared with the year-ago period. Net incom e during the quarterwas $7.4 million, compareds with $3.
3 million in the year-earlier Smith & Wesson President and CEO Michael F. Golden said in a statement the results reflect a numbere of records forthe company, including for cash leveld and unfilled customer orders for firearms.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Survey: Commercial construction will lag in 2010 - Kansas City Business Journal:

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The American Institute of Architect’s Consensus Constructiomn Forecast reported that nonresidential construction is expected to drop by 16 percent in 2009 and an additionaol 12 percentin 2010. “This nonresidential downturn is shaping up to be the deepesrt decline in nonresidential activity in overa generation.” AIA Chiefv Economist Kermit Baker said in a release. we’re beginning to see some moderation in the trend in design billings at architecture so we hopefully are nearing the bottok ofthis cycle.” • Retail constructiobn is expected to drop 28 percent in 2009 and nearlu 13 percent in 2010.
• Hotel construction will drop nearlyu 26 percent in 2009 and nearly 17 percentin 2010. Office buildings are expected to decreasr nearly 22 percent this year and more than 17 percentnext • Industrial facilities construction is expected to drop a fractionh of a percent in 2009 and nearly 29 percent in 2010. “Commercial facilitiezs such as hotels, retail establishmentes and offices will feel the decline most Baker said. “The institutional market will fare much better as stimuluws funding becomes available for health care andgovernment facilities.” Amusement and recreation is expected to drop nearly 21 percent in 2009 and more than 8 percenf in 2010.
• Construction of religious facilitiews should fall nearly 11 percent in 2009 and nearly 7 percenytin 2010. • Education construction is projectex to decrease more than 8 percenrt this year and a fraction of a percentrnext year. • Construction of healtjh care facilities is expected todrop 1.5 percent in 2009 and a fraction of a percent in 2010. Public safety construction is expected torise 1.7 percenty in 2009 and drop a fraction of a perceny in 2010.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Oakland City Council's disappointing failure - San Francisco Chronicle

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Oakland City Council's disappointing failure

San Francisco Chronicle


The council failed to pass a resolution calling on police to enforce all available laws to prevent another shutdown of the Port of Oakland or another violent demonstration. The seaport terminal has been shut down twice by Occupy Oakland protests since ...



and more »

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Let's hear it for . . . - Business First of Louisville:

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Louisville's support of the arts. The economy is companies are laying off employeeaand dot-coms are dropping like Not exactly the best time for a majorr fund-raising effort. That's what makes the results of this year's Fund for the drivw so impressive. Just a week ago, it looked like the fund would not reach its $7.2 million goal. Yet campaignm results announced this week showed that the fund exceede the goalby $365.
Louisville'sz Fund for the Arts, which supportxs the efforts of 14 member agencies and 11other programs, is one of the most successful of its type in the The ongoing support of area businesses, governmentse and individuals demonstrates the value residents of this community place on the Because of the economy, this was one of the most challengingh Fund for the Arts drives. Hats off to campaig Chairman Eddy Roberts, fund President Allan Cowen, the fund staff, and thousandx of volunteers who helped make the drivrea success. And a standing ovation goes to the morethan 32,00 0 donors who opened their pocketbooks to support arts in our ... The Galleria plan.
It took a long time to but the agreement that will have a notee national developer turn the underperforming Galleria into an entertainmentf center appears to bea homerun. David Cordish and his Cordishh Co. have an impressive track recore of turning old factories and neglectedx downtown buildings into vibrant developmentsfeaturinvg bars, restaurants, stores and nightclubs. The deal with Cordisnh calls for the city to buy the Galleriw from Oxford Propertiesfor $4 million and then sell it to the Cordisnh Co. for $1. The city will issue $16.
5 million in bonds to fund the purchase anda $9 million grant to Cordish will develop the $70 million center and pay the city 25 perceny of the annual profits from the new center. The Galleria projecy is a shot in the arm for a communityg wrestling with ways to retain and attractyoung professionals. One of the major complaints from young people is the lack of an entertainmentt district withmultiple offerings.
The redeveloped along with other recent downtown development efforts like Louisvills Slugger Field and various housing initiatives will go a long way towardws making downtown Louisville an attractive placs for both workers and those who come to Louisville Mayor Dave Armstrong deserves credit for doggedlg pursuing his dream of making downtowjn a great placeto live, work and Many were skeptical when he shared his visionn for downtown housing and for wooing Cordish to take on the The mayor has done a good job of buildingt on the momentum created by the creatio of Waterfront Park, the development of West Main Street and the construction of Louisville Slugger Field.
Even the skeptic have to admit things are getting prettyinteresting downtown. ... Anothefr new museum. West Main which already boasts the Louisville Science Center and the Louisville Slugger will get another important attraction in 2003 when the Owsleyu Brown Frazier ArmsMuseum opens. Frazier, who retireds last year as vice chairmanof Brown-Formahn Corp., has been one of Louisville's leading He also has collected historic guns and knives for more than 25 Frazier will donate his collection to the museumk to be located at 833 W. Main St.
Frazieer also has secured a long-term relationshi p with the Royal Armouriesof England, which will feature a collectioj of ancient armor and weaponry at the new The arms museum will be just another reasonj for local residents and out-of-tow n visitors to come downtown. Three cheers for Frazier'ss most recent contribution tohis

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Erickson gives up on Hilliard project - South Florida Business Journal:

aaekipolo.blogspot.com
notified the city of Hilliard last Thursdahy that the foreclosure filingt means thedeveloper won't open the unfinished $34 million first phase and will no longer managre the 80-acre property. The decisiom ends more than two months of wranglinh over continued financing of the Hickory Chase project between the developer andthe lenders. That financiapl issue had prompted Erickson to cease constructionm on the first 145 units of the complex and communityt center the week ofMay 12. The company’s announcementr comes as it from its goal ofinvesting $12 billion to develop 50 communities over the next decade.
That includees scrapping plans to build senior housing facilitie infive states, includinbg Ohio. Before Erickson halted would-be residents had been told they coulds move in bylate summer. Ericksomn had planned to deliver 833 residentiap unitsthrough 2013. “We have been informed by the lendef for our Hickory Chase project that despite out best efforts to resolvsefinancial issues, the lenderr has commenced a foreclosure proceeding that will result in us not beinhg able to open Hickory Chase and end our managementr of the property,” the developer wrote in its letter. “Wee are deeply disappointed we were not able to reac ha resolution.
” The deposits of prospective residentw are not affected by the foreclosure, the company said, and it will offer refunds. The compan said in June that it would close its salez center in late July pending resolution of thefinancia issues. A company spokesman offered no additional comment beyond the text ofthe letter. A KeyBanl spokeswoman also was not immediately available for comment on thefinancing consortium’s plans for the property. The lenderr had extended a $90 million construction loan for the projecr inApril 2008, accordinvg to public records.
In a news release, Hilliard said it had not riskefd city money inthe $17 milliojn of road improvements to Britton Anson Drive and Leap Road. Brittoh Parkway opened in January while construction continue on theAnson connector. Those projects were financed througb a community development authority that funded the projecr throughbond financing. Those bonds were expected to be paid off through rising propertyy taxes generated as theretirement community’xs buildings get completed.
Hilliard Finance Director Michelle Kelly-Underwood said the city’s currenrt operating budgets also did not rely on tax revenure generated bythe “In short, we were not counting moneg from Erickson until (the retirement was built,” Kelly-Underwood said in the release, “ane this unfortunate development showzs the wisdom of takinb that conservative approach.”

Friday, February 3, 2012

Grede Foundries files for bankruptcy protection - Business First of Columbus:

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Wayzata Investment Partners LLCof Wayzata, Minn., an SEC-registered investment advise r and manager of private investment funds with more than $5 billiohn in assets, has offered to providr a $45 million temporary loan facility to allow time for an orderly sale undere the supervision of the Bankruptcy Court. Since Wayzata has invested morethan $12 billiom in more than 600 investments. The made Tuesday in the U.S. Bankruptcy Courtg for the Western Districtof Wisconsin, was driven by the impactg of the current economic downturn on the companyg and its customers, particularly the automotive said Richard Koenings chairman of the boarxd of directors for Wauwatosa-based Grede.
The reorganization and assegt sale is expected to position the companyh for a turnaround as the country emerges from the most difficult economiv period it has seenin generations, he “The significant deterioration in the automotivse and construction industries and the resulting impact on our company and the foundryt industry in general requir that we take this strategic Koenings said. “We have carefully explored many and believe a sale to a strong financiapl backer like Wayzata is the best way to effectivelyt proceed in what has been an exceedinglhydifficult marketplace.
” Koenings stressed that Grede Foundries remains in business and that jobs will remai n during the transition. “This move gives us the time to restructurs while we continue to do business and operate our he said. “Grede will continue to buy goods and servicex fromits vendors, support its work force and provided its customers with the same quality productds and service they’ve come to expect from us. Our goal is to preservse and strengthen our business so that we can competes successfully inthe future.
” Wayzata has also agreed to make the firsyt bid, often called a “stalking horse” bid, for “Wayzata’s commitment shows their belief in the strengt h of the Grede name and its respected positioh in the foundry industry,” Koenings Sales of businesses in bankruptc proceedings are often structured where one compan makes the initial bid for another company’s assets.
Under rules approved by the court, higherd offers from third partiese can be submitted as competing The “stalking horse” arrangement helps ensurr that Grede receives the best value for its assets and allows for offersw that are best for the creditors whiles preserving the business operations, company management said. Gredde said that it has already received inquiries from otheer parties that are interestedin Grede’s productiomn capacity. Koenings said Grede expects the sale and related bidding process to move steadilyu through thecourt system.
“We are deeply committesd to doing everything necessary to put our company on solir footing as the nation begins to rise out of the worstr economic conditions since theGreat Depression,” he said. “Our customerds very clearly want us to succeefd and have beenvery supportive.” Grede announced in May that it had laid off 81 employeess from its foundry in Wauwatosa since the end of In April, the company revealed plans to closer its foundry in Greenwood, S.C.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Bauer takes stars from 17 banks - The Business Review (Albany):

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The company uses federal regulatory data to rate banks baserd oncapital ratio, profit/loss trend, delinquent loana and other factors. Bauer's rating ranks from a high of 5 stare to a low of 0 in Coral Gables lost a star going tofour (excellent) from five stars. Four others maintained their five-stare ranking: American National Bank, Oakland Park City Nationao Bankof Florida, Miami First Nationalk Bank, South Miami Intercontinental Bank, West Miami in Miami rose to three stars from two. First United Bank in Boca Raton and Biscayne Bank in Coconut Grove roseto 3.5 stars from in Fort Lauderdale made four stars, up from 3.5. Severa banks went to 3.5 from four stars.
They are: , Homestear Doral-based slipped again, this time to three starsz from three-and-a-half stars in the first quarter. That’s down from four starz in the third quarter of last Other banks that slipped to threestares (good) from 3.5 are: Executive National, Miami , Miamk , Miami U.S. Century Bank, Miami Valleyh Bank, Fort Lauderdale Lydian Private Bank in Palm Grand Eastern Bank of Floridain Miami, Metro Bank of Dade and in Miami fell to two star s (problematic) from three. , in North Lauderdale and in Boca Raton fell a notcj toone star, down from two in the fourthg quarter.
Four banks retained zero stars, Bauer’s lowesrt rating: , Miami Republic Federal Miami , Miami Integritg Bank, Jupiter